In a year that set a record in Indiana for industrial development investments topping $22 billion, Noble County economic development has found it difficult to narrow down the list of top local stories to highlight. The ten selected do not even include the nearly $41 million of industrial investments announced locally during 2022, a number that matches the investments announced in 2021. It seems fitting that the stories highlighted here, as 2022 draws to a close, are those of initiatives aimed at retaining, attracting, and developing talent, and growing the population and workforce overall to support such significant investments by the large concentration of industrial employers (and others) in Noble County.
The Top 10 economic development stories of 2022 in Noble County, as selected by Be Noble Inc. staff, are:
1. The iSMART Lab opens
The idea of an “Industry 4.0 learning lab,” perceived as a key component to building a local talent pipeline, was shared at the annual meeting of Noble County Economic Development in June 2021. Since then, more than $2.1 million in private and public dollars have been invested or committed to bring the region’s first-of-its-kind iSMART Lab to the Community Learning Center (CLC) in Kendallville. The first phase of lab development, completed in 2022, included infrastructure and the equipment needed to teach the fundaments of the industrial technologies prevalent in today’s “smart” factories (and other sectors). The iSMART Lab began welcoming students in August 2022 from Impact Institute (juniors in high school) and Freedom Academy (adult learners). In October, middle schoolers from across the region took part in Manufacturing Experience 2022, a collaborative, experiential day camp made possible by Northeast Indiana Works in collaboration with other local entities. Phase II of iSMART Lab development got a major boost when Indiana READI funds were approved by the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority in September. $958,003 was approved in support of workforce development. Funds will be used to purchase more equipment to facilitate the advancement of learners to a simulated smart factory environment.
2. Next Level Connections enabling significant broadband expansion
Following months of collaborative work with partners and stakeholders in Noble County, LigTel Communications learned that all three of their grant proposals to secure funding through Indiana’s Next Level Connections program were awarded a total of $11.5 million. This puts LigTel, a company founded and headquartered in Ligonier in western Noble County, in a position to execute a $25 million project to expand its fiberoptic network to most of rural Noble County and parts of LaGrange County. Work is expected to be completed over 36 months to connect thousands more addresses to high speed, symmetric broadband capable of speeds of 2 Gigabytes per second on upload and download. This work is in addition to the work of LigTel and other internet service providers continuing to invest in expanding and enhancing the quality of broadband connectivity in the county.
3. Indiana READI grant awards for talent development and housing
Representatives from Noble County made two pitches to the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority, seeking Indiana READI funding. Both were voted on the same day, in the same room they were heard, and approved. The first pitch came from collaborators behind the iSMART Lab project, outlining a request for $198,450 to purchase additional advanced equipment to add a simulated “smart factory lab” at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville. The “Phase II” portion of the iSMART Lab project will enable those Impact Institute students who complete programming in their junior year of high school to advance to a higher degree of hands-on, practical learning in an actual simulation environment in which robots communicate to one another, as they would in a real industrial setting. The advanced programming, cloud-based computing, and other skills in high demand by local employers will also be taught for adult learners of Freedom Academy.
The second READI pitch was one made for the Town of Avilla seeking financial assistance for infrastructure costs related to two housing subdivisions that had stalled. That project was approved for $759,553 to help the town complete necessary street work and connect electric utilities, bringing down the lot costs for the developer to a level that allows the projects to move forward. Noble County inherits hundreds of workers who commute in each day, and Avilla sits within a 30-mile radius of a labor force of nearly 300,000 people. READI funds will catalyze the construction of 13 single-family villaminiums at a price of $250,000 to $350,000, as well as 40 single-family homes to be priced at $300,000 to $500,000. Groundwork began in late 2022 and home construction is expected to resume in early 2023.
4. Thrive by 5, tackling child care and early learning challenges
Following the hiring of Jenna Anderson as coordinator in late 2021, Noble Thrive by 5, the county’s early learning coalition, began moving full steam ahead. Anderson quickly joined the leadership team working to build the Northeast Indiana Regional Early Childhood Coalition. Early the 2022, Anderson and Jacob Ihrie, Albion Town Manager, began to explore the possibility of using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to build a new child care center in the county seat to help relieve the significant gap in licensed care facilities by providing services for up to 150 children. Town officials have thus far approved efforts to obtain architectural drawings, construction estimates, and estimates from candidate grant administrators. Project plans outline a public-private partnership with several grant opportunities already identified.
In October 2022, Noble County Commissioners became pioneers by approving a $50,000 investment of County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds to Noble Thrive by 5 launch the state’s first Tri-Share Program to help spur more willing-to-work parents to join or rejoin the workforce. The Tri-Share program splits the costs of child care for qualifying parents three ways, between government, employer, and employee. Data from a study funded by Ambassador Enterprises dropped in mid-December that will inform ongoing strategies and the possibility of implementing a Tri-Share program across all eleven counties of the Northeast Indiana Region. Noble’s program is expected to launch in early 2023.
Also in mid-December, Thrive by 5 leaders decided to transition the organization from working solely for Noble County to serving both Noble and LaGrange Counties, a partnership they believe will enhance organizational sustainability and help expand the impacts of work even further.
5. Transforming downtown Kendallville through the PreservINg Main Street Pilot program
Noble County’s collaboration was showing (again) when, back in August 2021, a group of leaders pitched Kendallville’s case to become a Pilot Community in Indiana’s first-ever PreservINg Main Street (PMS) program. The city was one of two Hoosier communities awarded $2 million to transform facades and preserve the historic integrity of downtown.
Kristen Johnson was named the city’s first full-time Main Street Manager. Her arrival was followed soon after by new branding, a new website, and a new name: Historic Downtown Kendallville (formerly known as Heart of Kendallville). The organization also made the transition to become a stand-alone, 501c3 non-profit entity.
Under the PMS grant program, several milestones were reached in 2022, including:
- architectural firm hired
- Twenty-five grant applications received; twelve selected for initial review
- Redevelopment Commission
- Established PMS-supporting facade grant, companion program
- Historic preservation guidelines adopted
- Historic Preservation Commission formed
- Walking tour mobile app launched
- Retail window graphic biographies of notable citizens installed
The momentum already created, first by the city’s new, $1.57 million streetscape completed in 2021, then by the $2 million PMS grant and companion community efforts, is palpable – and replicable. Lessons being learned through Kendallville’s experience are already spilling over into neighboring communities. The physical transformations yet to come, beginning in 2023, are anticipated to spur even more economic development, including downtown housing and more new business attraction.
6. A commitment to develop a Noble County Housing Strategy
To grow the population, people need a place to live. This is a concept not lost on probably anyone, yet knowing what is needed is a far cry from knowing how to get it. On the heels of informative housing studies in recent years, both in Noble County and Northeast Indiana, a significant step was taken in May 2022 when Be Noble Inc. decided to enter into an agreement with Housing Resource Hub to support a countywide housing initiative by facilitating the development and implementation of a Housing Strategy. The Housing Coalition of Noble County, a group of stakeholders from across various sectors and communities, will serve as the steering committee to help guide this work into 2023 and beyond. Included in the agreement is also the promotion of Club720, an app that connects prospective home buyers to loan products to aid them in attaining home ownership.
7. Readying Noble County for commercial solar system development
Following more than a year of intense research, discussion, public hearings, and due diligence, the Noble County Board of Commissioners accepted the recommendations of the Noble County Plan Commission and amended the Noble County Unified Development Ordinance by including the newly drafted Commercial Solar Energy System Over Lay District (CSES-OD). The change was made by a unanimous vote, ending a moratorium on applications on October 31, 2022. Most who followed the efforts to open Noble County to commercial solar development anticipate the first application to be submitted in 2023.
8. NoblePalooza, an expo to bring together the entire county to thrive
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed many community events and projects and ended some altogether. Among the “victims” were Thrive Noble County‘s Five to Thrive leadership program and the Thrive 101 bus tour, both aimed at promoting the Five Pillars of a thriving rural community. Leaders from across Noble County who embrace the Thrive framework as essential in their development efforts had plenty of time to mull over “what comes next.” They landed on NoblePalooza, an Expo to Thrive. Held on a Saturday in March at the Community Learning Center (CLC) in Kendallville, the first expo drew about 80 exhibitors and vendors representing all sectors and communities. The free event hosted around 200-300 neighbors who enjoyed interactive exhibits and received information about the many opportunities to support and benefit from leadership development, community investment, cultural enhancement, youth engagement, and entrepreneurial growth across Noble County. NoblePalooza 2023 will return to the CLC, even bigger and better, on March 11, 2023. Exhibitors, vendors, and the public are encouraged to attend.
9. A commitment to develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem
After enjoying unprecedented success with the launch of the iSMART Lab in 2022, made possible through collaborative partnerships and public-private funding, Be Noble Inc. shifted attention to a new development vision: an entrepreneurial ecosystem to support start-ups and growing small businesses across the county. Tom Leedy, a Be Noble board member and president of the Dekko Foundation, presented data to an audience gathered for Be Noble’s annual meeting in June. The data highlighted 626 entities that employ fewer than 10 people, representing nearly 70% of all businesses. Leedy concluded by issuing a call to action urging people to dig deeper to determine how to increase capacity to support entrepreneurship. Shortly after the June meeting, an opportunity to create a network of co-working spaces took shape. Collaborators have held multiple meetings and are fleshing out strategies around development in downtown Kendallville. The Town of Avilla has also invested Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to purchase and rehab a downtown building that, once restored, could also be a candidate location for a co-working space. Discussions are also underway with regional entities that stand to become partners in providing the wraparound services business start-ups and small business desiring to grow need.
10. Making Be Noble Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable entity
In a move to enhance and reflect the impact of Be Noble Inc. across Noble County, the organization transitioned from a 501(c)6 (membership) organization to a 501(c)3 (charitable) organization. The change makes it more attractive for private investors to support a number of economic development efforts. Be Noble has made tremendous contributions in recent years by developing and collaborating to execute strategies for business retention and attraction, building a talent development system, catalyzing housing growth, and supporting many quality of life enhancements across the county. These strategic priorities, partnerships, and collaborations are all aimed at improving individuals’ own wealth and independence as residents and employees in Noble County. Those interested in investing in Noble County’s economic development are encouraged to give annual, tax deductible support to Be Noble Inc. online or by mail to 110 S. Orange Street, Albion, IN 46701.
For more information about these or any economic development initiatives or services, contact Be Noble Inc. at (260) 636-3800 or info@noblecountyedc.com. Additional contact information is available here.
